Minority ethnic politicians are pushing harsh immigration policies – why representation doesn't always mean racial justice
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Thursday, July 13, 2023
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From only four minority ethnic MPs elected in 1987, now 67 MPs are from a minority ethnic background.
Key Points:
- From only four minority ethnic MPs elected in 1987, now 67 MPs are from a minority ethnic background.
- People often assume that if a person in power is an ethnic minority, they will advocate more strongly for minority ethnic communities.
- But, as our research shows, ethnic diversity in government is not a guarantee of racial justice.
- This, ironically, allows these government ministers to justify policies that are cruel to immigrants, and ignore legitimate concerns of minority ethnic citizens.
Anti-immigration sentiment
- As post-racial gatekeepers, politicians like Braverman give legitimacy to hard-right views on race and immigration.
- The illegal migration bill comes just a year after Patel led the passage of the Nationality and Borders Act.
- Read more:
Illegal immigration bill does more than 'push the boundaries' of international law
Immigration is still about race
- Despite comments like Braverman’s, evidence shows that immigration is still very much linked to race and racism.
- Many minority ethnic people – even those who are British-born or naturalised citizens – feel they are still targets of the immigration debate.
- Ethnic minorities are the worst affected by stringent immigration policies and stigmatised by anti-immigration language.
- But while most voted Remain, some minority ethnic Brexit voters supported Leave in opposition to immigration from eastern Europe.